Yoni Ben Menachem, a prominent Israeli orientalist, said that Israel must demand the U.S. work to oust the Lebanese Armed Forces chief of staff, arguing the general supports Hezbollah and cannot be trusted to implement disarmament. The statement reflects continued Israeli concern over Hezbollah's influence within Lebanon's state institutions.
Israeli orientalist Yoni Ben Menachem on Tuesday morning called for the U.S. to press for the removal of the Lebanese Armed Forces chief of staff, accusing the general of supporting Hezbollah. 'He cannot be the one to carry out the pilots and be responsible for disarming Hezbollah,' Ben Menachem said, according to his the source.
The remarks come amid a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, concluded last month after Qatari, U.S., and Iranian mediation. Israel has maintained it retains full freedom of action in southern Lebanon, while the Lebanese army is tasked with enforcing the disarmament of Hezbollah and preventing its military buildup south of the Litani River.
Ben Menachem's statement highlights ongoing Israeli distrust of the Lebanese state's ability or willingness to curb Hezbollah. The call for U.S. intervention echoes recent warnings from Israeli officials and analysts that the ceasefire's success depends on verifiable, irreversible steps by the Lebanese authorities — steps many in Israel view as unlikely under the current military leadership.
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Source and signal
- Internal intake